Canada capitalizes on England mistakes to capture friendly

Evelyne Viens and Nichelle Prince capitalized on defensive miscues and Canada blunted the England attack the rest of the way for a 2-0 win in a women’s soccer friendly Tuesday.

The mistakes came early and late — in the third and 86th minutes — and they proved costly.

The victory was a timely confidence boost for the eighthranked Canadians, coming against an in-season English team ranked sixth in the world and playing at home, albeit without fans.

Both teams played last Friday with Canada blanking No. 31 Wales 3-0 in Cardiff and England losing 3-1 to No. 3 France in Caen.

Canada captain Christine Sinclair, who limped off the field in the first half against Wales with an undisclosed injury, did not dress Tuesday. Canada struck early, taking advantage of a defensive blunder.

Janine Beckie drove toward the England penalty box and sent the ball in to Viens, who hesitated because she was in an offside position.

Defender Demi Stokes grabbed the ball and tried to send it to her goalkeeper only to see Viens muscle her off the ball and send it over the onrushing Carly Telford from close range.

It was the second goal in as many games for Viens, who opened her international account against Wales. The 24year-old forward, a prolific scorer at the University of South Florida with 73 goals in 77 games, has earned all five of her caps under new coach Bev Priestman.

Canada looked calm and collected in the face of England’s attempts to find a tying goal.

Substitute goalkeeper Karen Bardsley was slow getting rid of the ball on a Millie Bright back pass and Prince poked the ball in with the clock winding down.

Priestman made three changes to her starting lineup with Viens, Beckie and Allysha Chapman coming in for Sinclair, Jordyn Huitema and Gabrielle Carle.

Desiree Scott served as skipper in her 160th international appearance.

The Canadian starting 11 came into the match with a combined cap count of 751.

Barring Sinclair and absent defender Kadeisha Buchanan, it was probably Canada’s preferred lineup.